Locomotive feed water system



Aug. 29, 1933. J. s. coFFlN, JR.

LOCOMOTIVE FEED WATER SYSTEM ATTORNEYS Aug. 29, 1933.

J. s. coFFlN, JR

LOCOMOTIVE FEED WATER SYSTEM Filed Jan. 28, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 .Patented Aug. 29, 1933 y UNIY'IEDY STATE S..Y

l jLocoMo'rIvE FEED WATER-SYSTEM y Joel s'. con, Jr.,-Eng1ewooa, N. J., ss'ignor td f CLS Engineering Company, Englewood, N. J., a'

Corporation'of Delaware f j j 4 ApplicationvJanuary V28, 192,9.'` Serial No. 335,401. l a' 12o1aims. (C1`.r`122,441)

This invention relateasto locomotive feedwater'.

, heater systems,` and especially 'to the feed water heaterV itself and the distribution of steam there-` to and therethrough. j

7 5 one of the prmwry'obje'cts fthe invention isthe simplification of the 'installation' of feed water heaters on locomotives, as well steam distribution thereto. I

Another objectv of the invention is Athe Vreducf 10 tion of the number, size and cost ofthe parts required in such an installation, with a co-incidentr improvement in general appearance of the heater-equipped locomotive, saving of valuable space, and increase in accessibility of the heater and connections. Y,

Other objects of the invention include the pro-` vision oi a heater construction applicableto the l front-end or smoke-box ofjal'ocomotive, either externally or ina-recess therein, with a reduc- A: tion in overall length ofthe heater forward vof the smoke-box. (or of the smoke-box itself, in in ternal installations); the 'maintenance Yof thel requisite pipe connections below" the centre' line ofthe smoke-box; the reduction of piping lengths and simplification of joints; the obviation of the- `practiceof mountingy piping andlconnections in the smoke-box itself, even Where the heater is means for drainage or cleaning.

. How these objects and'. .a,dvantages,ltogether with such others 'as are incident "to the inventionor will occur .tothose skilled in the art, are attained, will b e clearfro'n `the following derecessed therein; and the provision of convenient d rawings;in` which drawingsz' Y Figure Yl `isa front elevationv of` `the present Iheater andassociated structure, in the position in which it israpplicableto `the front-end of a lofr comotlve,` certain parts being .in section, and

40 others broken away to show the structurebehindv them;

Figurel 2 is a View taken from the lrightof Fig; ureV 1, but with different parts broken away or in section, this viewV corresponding toa view from the left-hand side Vof alocomotiveto whichthe heater would be applied y .n

Figure 2a is a side view ofthe forward portion Y of a locomotive, with the-heater of the present invention applied thereto and with the various connections clearly illustratedras beingv extended to the lower ends fof the heater in the manner referred toaboveg'` form, and are preferablygrouped into a plurality kbank 7d, chamber 11 and bank 7e to the outlet scription, taken together with the accompanying Figure Sis a Section taken on, theline 3+-3 of Figure 4 is a section taken on me une 4`4 of Figure 1, but'with the heater tubesmitted. By reference to the drawingsin general, it will be seen that -I haver illustrated a feed water heat-` er construction having a casing formed'of a frontplate 2,V a rear plate 3,i upper 'and' lower plate'sviv `and 5, and end or tube plates 6;Y the heater structure being semi-circular when viewed infront 4elevation (as in Figure `1), so as to be mounted at thefront of a locomotive smoke-box for obtaining maximum; practicable tube-length with minimum Waste of space `or encroachment Aon `gvision orA clearance limitations. The water tubes 7, conL nected'at their ends into the respective tube sheets; areof similar arcuate` or semi-circular 7 0 of passes, 7a, 7b, 7c, '7d and 7e (see Figs. 2 and 3)', so that the water; fed into inlet 8 of inlet header 9, as by means of .the supply lpipe 8a (seev Fig. 2a) passes rst through the tubes of bank 7ozY to the counterpart outlet header` (not shown),v "ff-- then back through bank 'bto header chamber 10, fromthence byway of bank 7c to asimilarY chamber'of .the opposite header, thenthrough of the outlet header. Y

The two'headers (only one of which is shown)=' are counterparts, relatively reversed in position, and are attached to the tube plates,` Vfor coiope'ra? tion therewith, by bolts 12,V 13. Drainage ports 14,I '1-5, with plugs 16,` are,'respectively, provided Vfor'charnbers 10 and 1 1, as well asY washoutplugs .17,` one for each end ofv thetube-chamber itself.A4

The casingis preferably` provided 4with tube positioninggplates 18, hand-hole Vframesy 19 adjacent thereto',a nd combined handLholer covers and kheater-lifting devices Y2O., the latter being lfirmly j securedto the casingstuds -21 -serewed intotlie"v frames 19. The -casing att1f1e back isprovided with mounting padsr22and studs 2'3 fory 'attachment totheiront of ltheusmokebox; While -lagging platesj24, 25, 26, and retaining studs -2'7,ma y f Aas to provide ample clearance within its inner 1circum'ference :for removal of *A locomotive parts .to end'of the heater.

Vforward, extension 6 having atits lower vendfa downwardly and rearwardlyV directed flange 4i), to which may be sel through the usual smoke-box door, as well as to keep its outer circumference within theoutside circumferential surfacey of the smoke-box shell. In `its longer cross-sectional dimension (see Fig. 4) the heater is divided, from front to back, into'three chambers, 30, 31 and 32,'by means of the partitions 33 and 34 which' extend from end Partition 33, preferably welded to casing plates 4 and 5, has one or more steam apertures 35, there being three of them in this instance, one located at the centre of the heater and one at each'side of the central one (two, only, being shown inligure l, because of the breaking away of a part of partition 33).

The other partition (7374).'V is perforated with av multiplicity of holes, over substantially its entire area. This partition is preferably. supported from the rst -by rivets and spacers, 37.and

At the ends or legs of the heater I provide steam inlets 39, each Welded atits upper end to a of the tube sheet 6, and

curedl the liiange 41 of a pipe 42 which extends diagonallyA downward for connection to the locomotive cylinder exhaust, as at42a in Figure 2c. A ball ring 43 is preferably DOvided at the juncture of conduits 39 and'42 to accommodate move-r mentsdue to temperature changes. lThe connection from the heater to the boiler isv clearly shown in Figure 2a at 8b.v i.

From the' description, hereinbefore, of the Water tubes and headers, it will be evident that the Water,` in, its course through the heater, e

makes a plurality of passes from end to end of the heater, the first or coldest pass being the rear pass .7a (as seen in Fig. 3)` and the last or hottest pass being the forward pass 7e. The

passes are, in other words, arranged serially from the Yrear to the front of the elongated chamber 32 (speaking with respect to the cross-sectional dimensions of the heater), Chambers and 3l, on the otherhand, occupy relatively-little space in their corresponding dimension, sincer their cross-sectional area need be only suflicientto give clear passage to that quantity of steam which the Aheater itself is able to condense. Now

i t it will be evident that the steam,rin passing from the exhaust connections 42 into the receiving connections or elbows 39, is'directed from thence through passage or chamber 30, from each lower-4 most end thereof up to the centre or top ofthe heater. Here it passesthrough the apertures ofpartition v33 into chamber 31 and flows down- Vwardly inthe two legs of this chamber."`- That pass7e, from end to endA is, Vthewholechamber 31 is filled with steam, and length of the chamber the steam the holes 36 into tube chamber 32, striking first thetubesof the last thereof and` in succession the other passes in 4 densate collecting at the ends of the' heater where it ,passes out through pipes 29.

The entire arrangement is such that,.while the steam is uniformlyv distributed from end to endk of the heater, (so that it may flow uniformly across the full length ofthe banks of tubes) ,yet the steam delivery pipes 42 may, be connected-atthe two ends ofthe heater at the very bottom, thus simplifying the connectons, and eliminating cumbersome expensive and unsightly piping arrangements above orv in front of the 'heater` or A. the

smoke-box, as is clearly shown in Figure 2a. Fur.- thermore, from Figure 2a it will be "seen that all l ,like manner;V the con-l connections are made outside the smoke-box, and all of them at the bottom of the heater, simplifying condensate drainage and steam delivery as well as the draining or cleaning out of header and heater chambers. f

I ninstallations where the heater ;is recessed into the smoke-box itself, the lower half of the smoke-box shell may be indented at the sides, im-l jmediately below the heater legs, so that all joints are compactly located just outside the shell.

ened, and the general appearance of the locomotive enhanced.

In conclusion, especial attention is again called to Figure 2a vfnich' clearly i illustrates the manner in which the various connections to the heater are exten-ded to the lower ends thereof so Vas to provide for the reduction of piping lengths and simplification .of Vjointsjsota's to obviate the 'practice of foo mounting piping and vconnectons inthe smoke-` box itself, itbeing noted with regard to this point rthat while the arrangement is shown in Figure 2a as being applied.r tothe locomotive boiler externally thereof, even where the heater is recessed in the smoke-box, the connections,v as herenbefore brought out, may similarly be extended externally of the smoke-box; and vso as to provide convenient and effective arrangements 'for taking care of drainage and cleaning.

WhatI claim isf- I s l. In apparatus@v the character described, an

arcuate heaterhaving a groupofwater tubesextending lengthwise therein, end 'enclosures for the heater with vmeanshforpassing water through the tubes, avsteam delivery chamber and a steam distributing `chamber extending from end to end in the heatenjet openings spaced along awall of the distributingchamber from end to endand directed transversely ofthe `group of tubes, and a steam port interconnecting the chambers adjacent the middle of the arc, together with'means for feeding steam tomthe ends of the delivery chamber through sai-d end closures 2.' An elongated semi-circular feed water heater having'a casing with partitions dividing it into a plurality of curved chambers extending longitudinally thereof,l water tubes in one chamber, a multiplicity ofapertures' in thepartition adjacent thereto, asteam port in an adjacent lpartiknoL tion, there being a chamber between said two parof an adjacent chamberfor delivery -to said port.

vtitions, and means for feeding steam into the end n 3. An elongated feed'water heater having a casing with partiticnsdividingit into a pluralityof chambers extending longitudinally thereof,water Vtubesfin onechamber, a multiplicity of apertures in the ypartition adjacent thereto, asteam p0rt in an adjacent partition, there'being aiv chamber between said two" partitions, andmeansv-jfer feeding steam into the end of ann-adjacent chamber for delivery Vto said,porttogether Witha tube plate at anend ofthe casing having kan aperture'.

through `which the steam isfedsto said delivery chamber. n.

. 4'. elongated feed-,water having'a'lcas-y ing with partitions'dividing.itV into a plurality' of' chambersextending longitudinallyw thereof, water tubesin one chamber, a multiplicitYOf apertures in the partition adjacent thereto,'a steam port in an adjacent'partition, there being a chamber between said two partitions, and means for feed` ing steam into the end of an adjacent chamber for delivery to said port, together with a `tube plate at an end of the casing servingas a closure for all the chambers and having a steam supply aperture opening into the delivery chamber.

5. In a Vlocomotive feed water system, a substantially semi-circular inverted-U-shaped feed heater casing for co-operation with a smoke-box shell, water tubes extending lengthwise therein, water connection members adjacent the lower ends or legs of the casing delivering to and from said tubes, distribution means in the casing positioned to provide a chamber for steam distribution substantially uniformly endwise in the heater means for'delivering steam from said chamber transversely across the tubes, and steam delivery means connected to the heater adjacent the said lower ends or legs thereof and delivering to said v chamber.

6. In a locomotive feed water system, a substantially semi-circular inverted-U-shaped feed heater casing for co-operation with a smoke-box shell, water tubes extending lengthwise therein, water connection members adjacent the lower ends or legs of the casing delivering to and from said tubes, distribution means in the casing posi-V '1. In a locomotive feed vwater system, a sub-r stantially semi-circular inverted-U-shaped feed heater casing force-operation with a smoke-box shell, Water tubes extending lengthwiseV therein, water connection members adjacent the lower ends or legs of the casing delivering to and from said tubes, distribution means in the casing posi-Y tioned to provide a chamber for .steam distribution substantially uniformly endwise in the heater,

means for delivering steam from said chamber transversely across the tubes, steam delivery means connected to the heater adjacent the saidlower ends or legs thereof and delivering to said chamber, and condensate drains for the casing positioned also adjacent the lower ends thereof.

8. In a locomotive feed water system, a substantially semi-circular inverted-U-shaped feed heater casing for co-operation with a smoke-box shell, water tubes extending lengthwise therein, water connection members adjacent the lower ends or legs of the casing delivering to and from said tubes, distribution means in the casing positioned to provide a chamber for` steam distribution substantially uniformly endwise in the heater, means for delivering steam from said chamber transversely acrossthe tubes, and steam delivery means connected to the heater adjacent the saidlower ends or legs thereof and deliveringV to said chamber, said water connection members being formed as headers with a plurality of pockets therein, anddrain meansfor said pockets being mountedat such point, the heater-having arcuate water tubes therein, havingsteam distribution means positioned `to provide a chamber` for vsteam. distribution substantially uniformly endwise from the ends of the heater, having y means for delivering' steam from said chamber transversely across the tubes, and steam connections extending downwardly and rearwardly from the lower ends of the heater and connected the locomotive exhaust steam.

V10. In a locomotive, an arcuate heater shaped to conform to the general shape of the locomotive at a point 'adjacent the front and top thereof and being mounted'at such point, the heater having with arcuate water tubes therein, having` steam` dise"` tribution means positioned to provide afchamber for steam distribution substantially uniformlyy endwise from the ends of the heater, havingY means for delivering steam from said, chambertransversely across the tubes, and steam inlet members secured to the lower` ends ofthe heater, extending downwardly, and having conduit means attached thereto and connected with the locomotive exhaust steam.

11. Inma locomotive, a substantially vserni-cirv cular inverted U lfeed water heater mounted ad- 110 jacent the front end thereof, the heater having means for mounting it in the position aforesaid and having steam and water connection members at its lower ends, thesteam connection members being connected with the locomotive exhaust steam and the water connection members being connected with the water supply pipe and the boiler, and an internal steam-conveyingpassage delivering adjacent the middle of the heater whereby external piping is minimized and is kepty below the heaterprOper, while balanced steam distribution from the center to the ends of the legs of the heater is assured.

12. In a locomotive, a ,substantiallysemi-'circular. inverted U feedwater'heater mounted advjacentthe front end thereof, the heater having means for mounting it in the position laforesaid V and having steam and water connection members being connected withV the water supply pipe and with the boiler, and an internal steam-conveying y passage delivering adjacent the middle of the heater whereby external piping is minimized and is kept below the heater proper', while balanced steam .distribution from the centerV to the ends of the legs of theheater is assured.

, JOEL S. COFFIN, JR.

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